Introducing the Sporkzilla

Since everyone seems to be doing gear reviews these days and in the absence of anything serious to write about, I thought I'd bring this new bit of gear to the attention of the world or at least that small corner which follows this blog.

Advertised by Outside in Hathersage as the Sporkzilla, it is a monster spork - the red one in the picture is a spork of normal dimensions This truly hyperbolic utensil it is the mother (or should that be Mothra?) of all Sporks - a spork worthy of Crocodile Dundee II (that's the bad one, set in New York). 

Presumably targeted at those with a larger appetite or in a hurry to eat their freeze dried nosh, it weighs in at a hefty 50g (compared to around 10g for a normal spork).  UL backpackers might be inclined to shy away from such a beast but it could easily double up as a poo trowel, tent peg and comb.  It is almost perfect for getting stones out of horses hooves or boy scouts out of girl guides (or other boy scouts).

So rush out and buy one - you know you want to.

Stanage for sale?

My son found this news item on the UKClimbing website

Stanage Edge, the popular climbing, walking and wildlife area on Sheffield's doorstep, could be leased or sold by the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) to a 'like-minded' body.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/item.php?id=61783

and I have since found the original posting on the PDNPA webiste here

http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/index/news/news-display-page.htm?id=24802

Now this may be something or nothing, like the proposed sell off of the forestry, but it's hard to see how the free and open access to Stanage and the North Lees Estate that we currently enjoy is commensurate with the needs another owner would have to raise revenue for its upkeep (or, of course, make a profit).

The Peak District National Park, along with those in the Lakes, Snowdonia and Dartmoor, is 60 years old this year.  Whilst much of the land within the PDNP isn't owned by the authority, it's troubling to learn that some of the most precious areas, which they presumably bought in the first place to conserve, are now to be sold off or leased to private organisations as a result of government spending cuts.

Redmires - Stanage

After a glorious day on Pen-y-Ghent, I unexpectedly ended back home in Sheffield on Saturday night and woke on Sunday feeling grey.  Actually I didn't really wake because I hadn't actually been asleep, which was the reason for the greyness.  Anyway it matched the day outside the kitchen window.  After catching up on some catch up TV and still feeling restless, I grabbed the daysack and drove up to Redmires with only a vague idea of where I might go.  I ended up sneaking up on Stanage Edge by a route which started by following sheep tracks until they ran out and then landrover tracks in the bracken until they ran out and then a stream until that ran out and finally across some burnt heather until that also ran out just before the High Neb trig point and moments before my legs ran out. It was a breathtaking thrash.- that is, I felt quite out of breath.  Clearly my body doesn't function well after no sleep.  Anyway, despite the greyness or as a result of it, the Hope Valley skyline was one of receding silhouettes

Silhouettes

Hope Valley panorama from High Neb, Stanage

To the north west, dense grey smoke was rising high into the sky from burning off the heather.  There had been signs of this at various sites across the local moors all last week.

Close by the trig point is a rock with a cup and water channels carved into it.  There are a series of them up this end of Stanage, from the time it was used as a drove road used by Jaggers, the local name for the drovers who transported goods over the moors using pack-horses to carry things such as salt from Cheshire.  This cup is labelled number 9, though it's not clear from the image below unless you zoom in above the cup.

High Neb Cup (no. 9)












A few photos later and I headed east along the edge towards Stanage Pole with the sun just starting to turn the clouds pink over my right shoulder.

Fading red sun over Hathersage









I reached the Long Causeway to find two 4x4s had just arrived, radios on at full volume and preparing to descend the track to the plantation near Dennis Knoll. 

The Long Causeway from Redmires, below Stanage Edge to Dennis Knoll











At the Pole I checked the geocache, which my son had shown me last year - a sad, broken plastic box filled with trinkets and a soggy notebook to log visits. 

Stanage Pole















Duly logging my visit I headed off down towards Redmires and it was then that I saw the new anti-4x4 defences which have been erected since New year, from just below the gate all the way down to the reservoir.  The damage done by the off-roaders was unsightly (why do these folk think it's ok to go off the track?) but I think this fence and random blocks of stone looks far worse.

 Landrover proof fence

 Damage done by 4x4s

Not glacial erratics








The track is currently a Public Byway, meaning that 4x4s and trails bikes may legally go along it.  The good news (from my perspective)  is that Derbyshire Country Council have posted a notice at the bottom of the track, stating they have evidence that the Long Causeway should be added to the Definitive Map.

If I understand it, this could lead the way to reclassifying the Causeway as a Public Footpath or Bridleway, which would put a stop to motor vehicles using it.


Distance 5.3 miles, Ascent 650 ft